Valve



NOV- 14 1944 J. F. scHwAN ET AL VALVE Filed Oct. 2.7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l CHARLES E F'IEQEDN Nov. 14, 1944. J. F. scHwANET AL VALVE Filed Oct. 27, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 z? l AW 34 SWW/M1014,

JUEEFH FED-WAN CHARLES E FEREUN @Nimm/m34.

Patented Nov. 14, 1944 Joseph F. Schwan, St. Paul, and Charles VF.

, Pierson, Long Lake, Minn.

Application october 27, 1941, serial Nafnacn y 10 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in control valves and more specifically to a valve for controlling the flow of fluid from a supply source to more than one hydraulically operating work device and return.

The invention has chiefly in mind the provision of a valve with a single control member for controlling the iiow of fluid to and from the several hydraulic cylinders used as operating elements in a hay loader and stacker forming the subject matter of an application for United States patent led July 19, 1940, Serial No. 346,353, now Patent No. 2,295,917, issued Sept. 15, 1942, and in which one of the coinventors herein, Joseph F. Schwan, is sole inventor. In that application a valve assembly for the purpose was `disclosed but required the use of two operating handles or levers.

It is the primary objectof this invention to provide a valve in `a single unit and employing only a single handle or lever for controlling the fluid flow to the several hydraulic cylinders to thus render the manipulation as simple as possible and generally to facilitate the operation. Another object is to provide a valve of this nature in an extremely simple, durable andinexpensive form.

These and other more detailed and specic objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specication," reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is an axial and vertical section through the valve, showing the same in normal or inoperative position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view but showing the valve in one exhaust or pressure relieving position and with the handle or control lever position for another exhaust position of the valve indicated in dotted lines. v

Fig. 3 is an axial and horizontal section through the valve showing the valve in position for admitting uid to one -of the work cylinders and with the control lever position for admitting iiuid to another work cylinder indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a cross section along the line 4--4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross section along the line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a cross section along the line 6-6 in Fig. 2.

The valve comprises. a housing I5 through which a bore IB is extended from end to, end to slidably and rotatably receive the valve operating plunger or rod I1. -At one end the bore I6 is closed by a plug I8`Iand the plunger I1 extends outwardly throughthe other end with a conventional gland I9 provided to sealaround the plunger. At one side the housing I5 has an 5 enlargement 20 in which is provided a tapped opening 2l for receivinga coupling 22 by which the pressure or supply line I4 is connected to the valve. This opening `2l communicates with a center port 23 and branches oi through ducts 24 which at their ends are extended as spaced supply ports 25 and 26. All of said ports, of course communicate with the interior of the bore On the opposite side the housing I5 has an enlargement 21 Yin which is a tapped opening 28 to receive a coupling 29 which connects a return line 30 to the valve, said return line running back to the reservoir `(not shown). Extending inwardly from opening 28 is a center exhaust port 3| and branching off therefrom are the ducts 32 terminating in spaced side exhaust ports 33 and 34. These ports likewise communicate with the `bore I6 and said side ports 33 and 34 are spaced outwardly or toward'the ends of the housing with respect to .the side inlet ports 25 and 2li same distance as clearly shown in Fig. 3. On the upper side ofthe housing twopairs of tapped openings are located in bosses 35 and 36. One pair of such openings, designated at 31 and 38, is arranged adjacent one end ofthe housing and the openings communicate `through combination valve seats and ports 39 and 40 with the bore I6, the port 38, hereinafter termed an outletport, being located substantially in the 35 vertical plane of theinlet port 25 and the other port 40, termed the return port, being similarly located with respect to the exhaust port 33. The other openings, designatedjat 4I and `42, are located adjacent the other end of the housing 40 and communicate with the bore I 6 through similar seats and ports 43 and 44, termed outlet and return ports, and located, respectively, in the same planes as the inlet and'exhaust ports 26 and 34. 4 e

In the opening 31 a coupling 45 is screwed which connects a line 46 running to one working device (not shown) to which iluid is to be supplied. In the other openin'g 38 a plug 41 is I seated. Communication between the openings 38-39 is provided by a passage 48 so that both in effect are connected to the line 46 and hence the coupling and plug 41 are interchangeable. In similar manner va coupling 48 in the opening 4 I `couples a line 58 running to the other working device (also not here shown) and a plug 5I closes the other opening 42. Here again the openings are connected by a passageway 52.

The valve plunger or rod I1 hasnear its center a diametrically extending relief port or opening 53 which in the normal or neutral position of the plunger communicates with and connects the ports 23 and 3|. Spaced lengthwise along the plunger and in opposite directions from this center port 53 are two notches 54' and 55 located on opposite sides of the plunger and4 cut substantially to the center thereof. These notches 54 and 55 are normally located respectively, in alignment withl the inlet ports 25, and 26 as best seen in Fig. 3: The plunger I1 is releasably held in its normal position by a retaining ball 56rwhichengages a circumferential groove 51 near the end' of the plunger, said ball being yieldably urged into such' engagement by a spring 58 located in a bore 59 formed in the housing. A screw 60 in theV bore` not only supports this spring but enablestheef.-A 1 fective. tension of the. spring to. he lvaried. Spaced. from. the. notch 54, substantially in the. plane of' the exhaust. port. 33 the valve plunger I1 hasI a circumferentially extending-wide and.deep groove 6I. which normally restsbeneath the valve seat reservoir thus causing a recirculation of the fluid and preventing the pump from working against a pressure or head when not actually operating.

To.supply fluid through the line 46 the lever 63 is swung to one side to the position shown in Fig. which operation, by rotating the valve plunger I1, will bring the notch 54 therein into a position in which it will bridge the supply port and outletv port 39, thus connecting the lines i4 and 46. The uid pressure will of course unseat the check Valve ball 14 at this time but relief of the pressure then present in both openlngs 31 and 38 will be prevented by the check Yvalve ball'15. To supply fluid through the line y5ifthe lever 63`is-swung in the opposite direc- `tiorrturning the valve plunger and now bringing the notch.55 into position for bridging the supply port 26 and outlet port 43 as seen in Fig. 4. The check valve ball 16 is now unseated by the uid pressureV and fluid ows through the lines I4 and as required; As Will be clearly evident the notches 5.4-55' are so located (on opposite sides ofthe plunger)` that the pressure line I 4 may not be' connected to both lines 46 and 50 at the same time although pressure in one line may be held as pressure is admitted to the other.

Attention is directed to the fact that, as the plunger |1 is oscillated to bring'either notch 54-55 into registry with the supply ports 25 and 26,v the bore53 maintains at least partial registry with the inlet and exhaust ports 23 and 3|. In other wordsthese ports 23.` and 3| are only com.- pletely closedoff, or isolated from each other, as

the fluid flow to the lines 46 and 5llapproaches its groove 12 beingiconcentric with the valve plungf l er I1 it is. obvious that the levermay be turned from side toside to rotateoroscillate the plunger on its axis, inwhich operation theband 1|, of course, makes correspondingv movements in the groove. Of course. the plunger I1 may also. be

moved endwise inthe bore.. I6. byy swinging the leverI toward oraway from the housing,7 in which operationr the. lever; fulcrums at itsconnection with the link68.

In each ofthe openings 31-38. and.4I-42 a checky valve is.arranged,.said.va1ves comprising valve balls-14f--15 and 16-11 for, the respective openings andlwhich are 'pressed tothe valve. seats` formedin the ports.39..-40 and 43-44by springs` 18 as clearly` shown. These valve balls thus nor.- mally actas checks against the return flow of fluid-from the 1ines,46.and 50,back into the valve but attention is ldirectedto. the fact that, whereas the balls 14.. and 16.are held. by theirseatsclear ofA the. path of thevalve plunger in the bore I6, the 'seats for. the other. balls 15` and 11` are lowered or formednearer the bore so that these balls normally will. project. through the ports 40. and 44 some distance into the bore I6. In the normal position of the valveplungen lhoweverthe ball 1,5.-.hangsinto the grnnve6 I. andtheball 1.1 clears. the plunger. endso that both seal v tightly at their. seats 4I'lfand.44;` Y

As statedheretofore thevalve,. plunger |.1 in itsnormalJ position stands. as shown. in Fig. 1 withthe ball4 56.- in..engagement:v with thegroove 51- and, .with the -handflever 63.- in-an uprightv positions. In such.position|the bore. 53.is alignedwith and connects the inlet and. outlet. portsT 23. and 3| directlyl and the pumpmay. simply pump the iiuid through the lines I4 and 30 back into the maximum and hence the load tothe brought to bear in a gradual manner.

To relieve the pressure in the lines 46-50 and return the fluid. to the reservoirthe following operations are necessary. Assuming it is desired to return fluid from line 46, the hand lever 63 is pulled back or away from` the valve to the position shownindotted lines in Fig. Zthereby moving the valve plunger I1 endwise and bringing the inner edge ofthe groove 6I into engagement with the check Valve ball 15. Such engagement forces this ball upward unseating it and the fluid may then flow through the line 46, passage 48 and port 40 around the groove 6I, throughport 33 and.duct 32 back into thereturn line 30 to the reservoir. Opposite movement of the lever 63 to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 will move the. plunger I1' inward causing its end to engage and unseat the check valve ball 11 as shown. Asvthisoccursfluidfrom the linel 5.0 may ow through the passage 52, seat 44, port 34 and duct 32into the.v return line to the reservoir. In both cases4 it willb'e noted (Fig. 2) that. as the plunger moves inward or outward the borev 53 will retain at least partial registry with the ports 23 and 3| so that the. pump may continue to recirculate the fluid without undue interference. For this purpose these ports 23 and 3| are elongated in the directionA of the length of the plunger as will be evident.

The reciprocatory. movements of the valve plunger as outlined above are limited by a stop screw 19 threaded inone side of the valve housing at so that its inner end will-enter the bore I6 and contact opposite ends of the groove 6| It will be apparent from the foregoing that great flexibility of control may be had by manipulating the single hand lever in either of two planes toward or away from the valve or with a rotary motionv with respect thereto. The movements are readily carried out to whatever degree pump is aeeagvr required to accomplish the work and are so simple that little experience will be required for proper operation. It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described our invention, what we claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a valve, a housing having a bore arranged to receive fluid from a` supply source and outlet and return ports opening into the bore intermediate the ends thereof, check valves in said ports, means movable in said bore in one direction for admitting fluid from the bore to said outlet port whereby the uid will unseat and pass the check valve therein, said means being simultaneously movable` in said bore in another direction for mechanically engaging the check valve in the return port laterally thereof to unseat the check valve to permit the return of the fluid therethrough into the bore.

2. In a valve, a housing having a bore connectedf with a source of fluid and having outlet and return ports communicating with said bore, a plunger movably mounted in the bore, a check valve in each port adapted when seated to prevent the iiow of fluid through said ports into the bore, means operated by movementl of the plunger in one direction for admitting uid to the outlet port, and the check valve in the return port having a part extended into the bore for engagement and operation by the plunger as it moves in another direction to unseat the valve and permit the flow of fluid therethrough back into the bore.

3. In a valve, a housing having a bore arranged in connection with a source of fluid and having outlet and return ports communicating with said bore, a plunger movably mounted in the bore, a check valve in each port adapted when seated to prevent the flow of iiuid through said ports into the bore, means operated by rotary movement of the plunger in the bore for admitting fluid to the outlet port, and means operated by endwise movement of the plunger for unseating the valve in the return port and permitting the return of fluid to the bore.

4. In a valve, a housing having a bore connected to a uid source and having two spaced outlet ports and two spaced return ports communicating with the bore, a plunger rotatably and slidably mounted in the bore, a check valve in each of said ports and arranged to normally prevent the flow of fluid through the ports into the bore,

I means operated by rotary movement of the plungmally projecting into the bore in the housing to a position in the path of a portion of the plunger whereby movement of the `plunger to engage said er for selectively connecting the iiuid source to the outlet ports, means operated by endwise movement of the plunger in one direction for unseating the valve in one return port to permit return flow of the fluid into the bore, and means operated by endwise movement of the plunger in the opposite direction for unseating the valve in theother return port to permit fluid ow therethrough back to the bore.

5. In a valve, a housing having a bore arranged to receive fluid from a supply source and having an outlet port and a return port opening into the bore, a plunger movably mounted in the borea ball check valve in each port, means operated by movement of the plunger in one direction for admitting fluid from the bore to the outlet port to unseat and pass the check valve therein, and the ball of the check valve in the return port norball may unseat the same and permit the return flow of uid into the bore.

`6. A valve connected to receive fluid from a supply source and comprising a housing having a bore receiving fluid from said source, a plunger movably mounted in the bore, said housing also having an outlet port and a return port opening into the bore, said plunger being operable to admit fluid to the outlet port for passage therethrough, a check valve in the outlet port to prevent return flow of fluid to the bore, a check valve in the return port normally preventing fluid flow back to the bore, and said last mentioned valve including a member which, when seated, projects into the bore in position for engagement by endwise movement of the plunger for forcibly unseating the valve member and permitting Iiow of fluid through the return port.

7. A valvev for connection to a uid supply source comprising a housing having a bore adapted to receive fluid from said source, a plunger movably mountedin the bore, said housing also having a pair of spaced outlet ports and a pair of spaced return ports communicating with the bore, said plunger having means operative to selectively admit fluid to said outlet ports, check valves in the return ports adapted to normally prevent return flow or fluid therethrough into the bore, said check valves each including a ball so arranged that when seated it will project partially into the bore in the path of the plunger, one plunger end being positioned to engage and unseat one of said balls when the plunger is moved endwise in one direction, and the plunger having a groove normally clearing the other ball but having a margin adapted to engage and unseat said other ball when the plunger isrnoved endwise in an opposite direction.

8. `A valve structure comprising a housing having a bore, a fluid pressure line and an exhaust line connected to the housing, said housing having ports connecting said lines with the bore, pressure outlet and return ports communicating with the bore, a plunger mounted for rotation and reciprocation in the bore, adapted upon rotation to connect the fluid pressure port to an outlet f port and upon reciprocation to permit flow from a return port to the .exhaust port, said plunger having a port normally registering with the said rst mentioned ports in the housing to permit circulation of the uid through the valve between the pressure and exhaust lines,`and said rst mentioned ports being so located that at least partial registration will be maintained as the plunger is moved to permit the return of fluid from a return port to the exhaust port.

9. In a valve, a housing having a bore adapted to receive iiuid from a supply source and having outlet and return ports communicating with said bore and means to receive fluid from the bore for return to said source, a plunger movably mounted in the bore, a spring pressed check valve in each port adapted when seated to prevent the flow of fluid through said ports into the bore, said plunger having means for admitting iiuid to the outlet port, and the check valve in the return port being adapted' to normally project into the path of the plunger whereby endwise movement of the plunger will unseat said check valve to permit the return flow of fluid into the bore.

10. In a valve, a housing having inlet and exhaust openings between which fluid may circulate :through thewhousng,. said; housing( having. a

. bore in communication; with said` inlet andi exhnust,l a plunger; mounted for longitudinal and.y

oscillatory movements iny the bore and; having openings for the passage of flilxid, two. pairs. ofY L5 sai'd; outlet ports, andmeans operable by pre- 10 determined oscillatory movementsjof. the plunger for selectively permitting communication'between said return ports and the exhaust opening; whereby'movements of thev plungerwill be -Operative to provide fluid underpressure toeither of said outlet ports and `to control' the. return' of such fluid tothe housing.

, JOSEPH F. SCHWAN. y

CHARLES F. PIERSON. 

